Center-controlled movable seat construction



2, 755,842 CENTER-CONTROLLED MovABLE SEAT CONSTRUCTION July 24, 1956 c.F. CARAMELLI 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DGO. 8,

FIG.2A

.4\ FIG. 2

INVENTOR CARL F. CARAMELLI ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 6.

C. F. CARAMELLI I lo.

Gla

FIG. 5.

FIG. 7.

July 24, 1956 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR CARL F. CARAMELLI ATTORNEYS WMM 30k/M Unite StatesCENTER-CONTRLLED MOVABLE SEAT CNSTRUCTION Cari F. Caramelii, LosAngeles, Calif., assignor to Peter G. Caramelli, Los Angeles, Calif.

This invention has to do with stools or seats com monly used at countersin restaurants and the like and particularly with such stools as haveseats which are adjustable toward and away from the counter.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel construction for acounter stool which enables the seat portion of the stool to be readilyadjusted in a horizontal plane and then held in adjusted position bymeans responsive to the weight of a person on the seat. Another objectis to provide such a construction wherein the seat, when freed,automatically returns to a predetermined position.

A further object is to provide a seat-mounting construction embodying apair of relatively movable plates, one of which is mounted on orsupports the seat and the other of which is carried by a post or column,together with novel means supporting the seat plate for limited verticalmovement and novel means for holding or braking plates to preventrelative movement therebetween when the plates are facing in apredetermined position.

Another object is to employ novel, simple means for returning apivotally mounted seat to a predetermined position. In this connectionit is an object to provide such a means which is durable and capable oftaking abuse.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and thefollowing description.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a partial, central, vertical sectional view of apparatusembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view, partly broken away, of the apparatus ofFig. l;

Fig. 2A is a fragmentary sectional view on line 2A-2A of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is an exploded View of the cam portions of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view on line 4 4 of Fig. l; and

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are partial sectional views showing alternate ormodified forms of the invention.

More particularly describing the invention, reference numeral 11generally indicates the lower portion of a seat and 12 a tubularsupporting column, the lower end of which is normally mounted upon thefloor. The seatmounting construction includes a pair of plates,indicated by 14 and 15, which are mounted for relative horizontalmovement by means of rollers 16 carried by plate and running in the sideportions 17 of the seat plate 14. The plates are preferably biased to acentral position by means of springs 2), the springs being attached atone end to plate 15 and at the other to plate 14 in a manner to exertoppositely directed pulling forces upon the movable seat plate 14.inasmuch as the construction of the plates themselves forms no part ofthe present invention, the above description of the plates need not beamplied.

Within the column 12 I provide a cylindrical housing atent Patented July24, 1956 E 22 which carries an annular plate or flange 23 at its upperend, the latter extending over the top of the column 12. I also providea bushing 24 at the upper end of the column between the housing 22 andthe column. The bushing is held in place by means of a screw 25 and aretaining plate 26. The latter is curved laterally to iit the column andfits in a recess 27 in the flange 23, the plate being provided withrecesses 23 in its lateral margins to fit the ange as shown in Fig. 4.The plate has a slot 29 to receive bolt 25. This construction serves tosecure the bushing in place and also to hold the housing 22 againstturning.

Within the lower end of the cylindrical housing I provide a stationarycam element 30 which is retained by a pin 31 mounted in the housing. Ialso provide a hold-down rod 32, the end of which is received in theelement 30. This rod is normally secured at the lower end of the columnin a base member or the like. Member 30 is cylindrical providing acylinder-type cam which I preferably form to provide two pairs ofhelically disposed cam surfaces. The surfaces of one pair, indicated by34, are offset axially of the other pair, ndicated by 35. Also, the twosurfaces of each pair areI oppositely helically disposed. The individualcam surfaces are normal to the axis of the cam member along any radialline. Shoulders 36 are provided between the pairs of surfaces. Also, Ipreferably provide a recess 37 between surfaces 34. Above the camelement 3i) I provide a movable cam member or pin 40, the lower end 41of which is cylindrical and provides the cam surfaces 34 and 35 andshoulders 36' which correspond to the elements 34, 35 and 36 of member30. This pin 40 has an intermediate portion 42 of reduced diam eter andabove this a further reduced section 43. The lower end of the movablecam pin is slidably and r0- tatably received in the cylindrical housing22.

In the upper portion of the cylindrical housing 22 I provide a sleeve45, the upper end of which is closed by plug 46. The sleeve carries amounting bracket 47 upon which the plate 15 is mounted by means ofscrews 49. A compression spring 50 is provided around the upper portion43 of the movable cam pin, and this serves to yieldably urge the movablecam pin and plate 15 away from each other. Preferably a pad 51 of rubberor other suitable material is used between the upper end of the cam pin46' and the plug 46.

In order to prevent relative rotation of the sleeve 45 and the cam 40 Iconnect these parts by pin 52 which is mounted in the intermediateportion 42 of the pin. The ends of this pin are received in axiallyextending slots 53 in the sleeve. With the construction described itwill be apparent that the two plates 14 and 15 and the sleeve 45 aremounted for limited vertical movement and are normally yieldably urgedupwardly as a unit by the spring 50. Also, the plates 14 and 15 andsleeve 45 may be rotated with the result that the cam pin 40 will rotaterelative to the stationary cam element 30 causing the entire seatstructure to rise. The turning movement is limited by engagement or" theshoulders 36-36 on the members 3i) and 4t). It will be apparent that,through the action of gravity, the seat will tend to return to itsoriginal or normal position in which it is shown.

As previously indicated, the two plates 14 and 15 are mounted forrelative horizontal movement. It is a particular feature of theinvention that I provide means for releasably braking or resistingrelative movement ofthe plates so that sliding movement of the seat isprevented when desired. To accomplish this, I provide a brake button 54having a shank 55 received in a bushing 56 mounted in the bracket 47.The upper end of the button is provided with a recess 56 to receive arubber or resilient element 57 The lower end of `the button rests uponthe plate 23. A

The plate 15 has a slot 15 to accommodate the brake button and a screw48, the slot permitting adjustment of the plate 15 on the bracket 47.

With the construction described, assuming the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 1, when the plates 14 and 15 are moved downwardly, as bysomeone sitting upon the seat 11, the button 54 remains stationary sinceit abuts plate 23, with the result that the resilient element 57 at thetop thereof engages the under surface of plate 14 to hold the plates 14and 15 against relative movement. However, if the seat is turned whilestill occupied, the seat-supporting structure, including plates 14 and15, rises relative to plate 23 and the other stationary elements, due tothe action of the cam means previously described, releasing button 54from engagement with the plate 14, thereby freeing the plates forrelative movement. When the seat-supporting structure is turned, andthen occupied, pad S1 serves as a cushion between parts 4G and 46.

Referring now to Fig. 5, I show a modified form of the invention. Inthis figure like numbers have been used to indicate parts whichcorrespond to parts previously described in Figs. 1-4. The chiefditerence between this form of the invention and the one previouslydescribed is that I mount the brake button, here indicated by 61, on theaxis of rotation of the seat plates. To accomplish this, I provide acentral bore 62 through the movable cam pin 40a and likewise a centralbore 64 through plug 46a in the upper end of the sleeve 4S. The boresslidably receive a rod 67 which rests upon the pin 31. The brake button61 is mounted for axial movement in the bore 64.

With the construction described, when the seat plates 14 and 1S andconnected parts move downwardly, the brake button 61, which rests uponthe upper end of rod 67, remains in place with the result that itengages the under surface of plate 14 to prevent any relative lateralmovement of plates 14 and 15. However, this is only true when the platesare in the position shown, since, if they are rotated, they rise andrender the brake plug ineffective.

In Figs. 6 and 7, l show a modified form of the invention. Referringfirst to Fig. 6, 71 indicates the column or supporting post in which ismounted a cylindrical housing 72 by the same means as housing 22 of Fig.l is supported. The housing carries an annular plate 74. The lower endof the housing 72 is closed by a threaded plug 76 into which is threadedthe hold-down rod 77.

Within the housing 72 is a lower cam element 78 having cam surfaces atits upper end similar to the surfaces at the upper end of cam element30. The member 78 is locked against rotation by means of a screw 81therein which is received in a slot 82 in the housing. The member 73 hasa reduced lower end portion 84 which is surrounded by a spring 85serving to yieldably urge member 78 upwardly. A pad 86 of rubber orother suitable material is positioned below the lower end of the member78.

The plate 15a of the seat structure is carried on a bracket 89 securedto the upper end of a mounting pin 91 which is rotatably and slidablyreceived in housing 72. The lower end of pin 91 provides cam surfacessimilar to those at the lower end of member 40. The bracket 89 supportsa bushing 93 in which is mounted a brake button 54a.

It will be apparent that, with the parts in the position shown, Vwhenweight is imposed upon the seat plate 14a asbyY someone sitting upon theseat 11a thereabove that ,ithe'two lplatesf14a and 15a and pin 91 movedownwardly against the force of's'pring 85. Since the brake button 54arests'upon the annular plate 74, the plate 14a then contacts the upperend of the brake button to prevent relative movement of the plates 14aand 15a. With this construction, also it will be apparent that rotationof the Y'seat plates andA mounting pin 91 will serve to rotate theengaging cam surfaces on members 78 and 91 raising the seat plates andmember 91 so that when the parts are released, gravity will eiect thereturn of the seat rotatively to normal position. When the seat platesare turned, the brake button is ineffective and an occupant can adjustthe seat.

In Fig. 7 I show a form of the invention which is similar to that ofFig. 6 except that the brake button, here indicated by 61a, is mountedon thc axis of rotation of the seat structure. In this form of theinvention the mounting pin, here indicated by 91a, is centrally bored at101 to slidably receive a rod 102, the lower end of which is threadedlysecured in the plug 76a. A brake button 61a is`slidably received in thebore 105 at the upper end of the pin 91a. In operation, when a loaddepresses the pin 91a, the brake button is held up by rod 102 with theresult that the upper plate abuts the brake button. If the seat platesare turned, the brake becomes ineffective as in the other forms of theinvention.

Although the invention has been particularly shown and described, it iscontemplated that various changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof as indicated by the following claims.

l claim:

l. In a seat-mounting construction, a vertical tubular column adapted tobe supported on a floor, an upright cylindrical housing supported in theupper end portion of said column, a seat-supporting assembly includingdepending means rotatably and slidably receivable in said housing, a cammember mounted in said housing below said depending means, a connectionbetween said housing and said cam member preventing relative rotationthereof, said cam member and said depending means having engagingcorresponding cam surfaces so disposed as to cause said depending meansto rise upon turning movement thereof, said depending means havingtelescoping parts, and a spring operatively positioned between thetelescoping parts of said depending means yieldably urging the sameapart.

2. In a seat-mounting construction, a vertical tubular column adapted tobe supported on a oor, an upright cylindrical housing supported in theupper end portion of said column, a stationary cam member mounted in thelower end of said housing, a movable cam pin mounted for rotation andfor vertical movement in said housing above said cam member, the upperend of said cam member and the lower end of said cam pin having engagingcorresponding cam surfaces so disposed as to cause said cam pin to riseupon partial rotation thereof, a sleeve slidably mounted in the upperportion of said housing, a spring between said sleeve and said cam pinyieldably-urging said sleeve upwardly and said pin downwardly,interengaging means on said sleeve and cam pin preventing relativerotation thereof, and a seat-supporting assembly carried by said sleeve.

3. A seat-mounting construction as set forth in claim 2 in which saidinterengaging means comprises a pin mounted transversely in said cam pinreceived in an axial slot provided in said sleeve.

4. A seat-mounting construction as set forth in claim 2 in which saidinterengagiug means comprises a pin mounted transversely in said cam pinreceived in an axial slot provided in said sleeve, and a pad betweensaid sleeve and said cam pin for cushioning downward movement of saidsleeve relative to the cam pin.

5. In a seat-mounting construction, a vertical tubular column adapted tobe supported on a lioor, an upright cylindrical housing supported in theupper end portion of said column, a stationary cam member mounted in thelower end of said housing, a movable cam pin mounted for rotation andfor vertical movement in said housing above said cam member, the upperend of said cam member and the lower end of said cam pin having engagingcorresponding cam surfaces so disposed as toV cause said cam pin to riseupon partial rotation thereof, said pin having a reduced upper endportion, a sleeve slidably mounted in the upper portion of said housingand freely receiving the reduced upper end portion of said pin, acompression spring between said sleeve and said cam pin surrounding thereduced upper end portion of said pin yieldably urging said sleeve andpin apart, interengaging means on said sleeve and cam pin preventingrelative rotation thereof, and a seat-supporting assembly carried bysaid sleeve.

6. In a seat-mounting construction, a vertical tubular column adapted tobe supported on a iloor, an upright cylindrical housing supported in theupper end portion of said column, a closure at the lower end of saidhousing, a cam element in said housing, means connecting said housingand cam element permitting limited axial movement of said cam elementand preventing rotation thereof, a compression spring between saidclosure and said cam element, and a seat-supporting assembly including adepending mounting pin slidably and rotatably t received in said housingin end-to-end abutting relation to said cam element, the upper end ofsad cam element and the lower end of said mounting pin having engagingcorresponding cam surfaces so disposed as to cause said mounting pin torise upon partial rotation thereof.

7. In a seat-mounting structure, a vertical tubular column adapted to besupported on a oor, an upright cylindrical housing supported in theupper end of said column, a pair of horizontally disposed, superposed,relatively movable plates, depending means attached to the lower of saidplates, said depending means being rotatably and slidably received insaid housing, means limiting downward movement of said depending means,a spring interposed between said housing and said depending meansnormally holding said depending means spaced above its lowermostpossible position, a brake button mounted in said depending means forrelative movement vertically thereof, said brake button having an upperend portion normally adjacent the under surface of the upper plate, andmeans for preventing downward movement of said brake button upondownward movement of said depending means and plates whereby to permitsaid upper plate to engage said brake button.

8. Structure as dened in claim 7 in which the means for preventingdownward movement of said brake button comprises a rod supported by saidhousing and extending centrally and independently of said dependingmeans.

9. In a seat-mounting construction, a vertical tubular column adapted tobe supported on a floor, an upright cylindrical housing supported in theupper end portion of said column, a seat-supporting assembly includingdepending means rotatably and slidably receivable in said housing, `acam member mounted in said housing below said depending means, aconnection between said housing and said cam member preventing relativerotation thereof, said cam member and said depending means havingengaging corresponding cam surfaces so disposed as to cause saiddepending means to rise upon turning movement thereof, spring meansoperatively positioned to yieldably elevate at least a portion of saidseat-supporting assembly and effective to maintain said cam surface inengagement, and means permitting limited downward movement of at leastsaid portion of said seat assembly without separating said dependingmeans from said cam member.

10. In a seat-mounting construction, a vertical tubular column adaptedto be supported on a floor, a pair of plates mounted one upon the otherfor relative horizontal movement, the uppermost of said plates beingadapted to support a seat, depending means on the lowermost platereceived in said column permitting limited rotative and verticalmovement of the plates, yieldable means urging said plates upwardly,said depending means and said column providing interengaging cam meanseiective, upon rotative movement of said plates in either direction froma given position to raise said plates, and etective with gravity, in theabsence of an opposing force, to return said plates rotatively to saidgiven position, said plates being depressible independently of said cammeans relative to said column upon the application of downward forcethereon, and brake means carried by said column engageable by saiduppermost of said plates only when said plates are in said givenposition and are depressed to prevent relative movement of the plates.

11. A construction as set forth in claim 10 in which a cushioning pad isprovided for cushioning the plates when the plates are depressed and arenot in said given position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,583,084 Malmberg May 4, 1926 1,942,033 Madsen Jan. 2, 1934 2,329,697Davies Sept. 21, 1943 2,351,194 Davies June 13, 1944

